Judge Kyle listened to attorneys from both sides on changes they wanted in the jury instructions. Petters's attorney Jon Hopeman repeated his complaint about being allowed not opening up Larry Reynold's witness protection file.

The courtroom was way crowded. I could barely move in the front row and government agents sat in front of me, so I didn't have a good view of the witness stand.

At ten o'clock , Tom Petters resumed testifying on his own behalf. Jon Hopeman asked questions about Petters's son, John. Petters choked up a little and said he was deep in grief after his son's murder and could not pay close attention to business.

Petters said he was too grief-stricken to be fully in charge of the business, but he also boasted about his deal-making with big merchandisers and his business trips all over the world. When Hopeman asked him about Deanna Coleman, Bob White and Larry Reynolds, had nice things to say about his former associates.

Tom Petters also answered questions about Frank Vennes Jr. Petters said he met Vennes in the 1990's. Petters said he only saw Vennes's investors once at a barbecue, but didn't remember meeting with the investors who testified last week. Petters said Frank Vennes was "peculiar". Petters also said Vennes brought him investors, including the Sabes. He also said he learned of the criminal record of Frank Vennes later, but didn't think it was a big deal because Vennes was "a Christian and he was forthright".